Multiple Myeloma Patient

I've been on chemo for two months. I'm 54 yrs. old. My treatment, so far is working. However, in two months, I have to face a BMT. I am very scared because I don't know if I will come out with more problems than solutions. So far, I only read about people who have more transplants or that they have developed more cancers, or that basically life for them is a roller coaster. I told Dr. I am not thrilled about spending 2 - 3 weeks in the hospital and going through with it. He said that I could continue on maintenance chemo but I should consider the transplant. I have not been able to contact anyone who is in a similar situation and with multiple myeloma. I would like to hear from someone who can share their own experiences. Has anyone had an option? Has anyone chosen maintenance chemo instead of BMT? I would like to hear from someone. I feel like I am all alone and nobody close to me understands what I feel.

I've been on chemo for two months. I'm 54 yrs. old. My treatment, so far is working. However, in two months, I have to face a BMT. I am very scared because I don't know if I will come out with more problems than solutions. So far, I only read about people who have more transplants or that they have developed more cancers, or that basically life for them is a roller coaster. I told Dr. I am not thrilled about spending 2 - 3 weeks in the hospital and going through with it. He said that I could continue on maintenance chemo but I should consider the transplant. I have not been able to contact anyone who is in a similar situation and with multiple myeloma. I would like to hear from someone who can share their own experiences. Has anyone had an option? Has anyone chosen maintenance chemo instead of BMT? I would like to hear from someone. I feel like I am all alone and nobody close to me understands what I feel.

Hello: I went through SCT Stem Cell Transplant for my Multiple Myeloma last October. It was not as bad as they told me it would be. I kept a strict regiment of anti-nausea meds every three hours and never got the nausea and vomiting most folks do. After the transplant I was off any type of treatment for four months and felt really good. Then the Dr. started me on Pomalyst as maintenance drug. I am in partial remission now. Close to .0 M-spike and dropping. I feel really good and almost normal. Still have low white blood count and some minor side effects but overall feeling really good. One year anniversary coming up and I will be retested at that time. I hope this is helpful to you.

I, too, was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma, but at the age of 68. After being watched for 18 months, I went through 9 rounds of chemotherapy and achieved a complete response. In December, 2012, at the age of 70, I underwent an autologous stem cell transplant and achieved a stringent complete response. I, too, was terrified of making the decision to have the transplant when I was well beyond the age of 65 (usually the cut-off for undergoing a transplant). I was also terrified by the unknown! Once I made the decision with the help of my spouse and children, I never looked back. If you would like to read about my entire journey through that process, please go to www.caringbridge.org/visit/marylousartoris. My husband wrote journal entries often throughout my chemotherapy and transplant procedure. He even included pictures of me during the entire process. You may read the journal articles from old to new so they will be in chronological order. I hope this will give you the information you are looking for...and also let you know that you are not alone...and I fully understand what you are going through at this point in your treatment. Good luck to you...and may you be as blessed as I. I celebrated my 73rd birthday in June! Also...if you wish to contact me directly through email, please feel free to do so. marylousartoris@charter.net

Hi,
I was diagnosed at age 67 and started treatment right away because I was developing kidney problems. I too was terrified of a transplant. What helped me was talking to others in my support group who had been through it. My transplant went very well and I have not required treatment for three and a half years.
If there is no one to talk to, try going to BMTinfonet.org and they should be able to put you in touch with someone.
Best wishes, Judy Ann